A self-made Goan news/sports photographer: Emiliano Joanes

 

Emiliano Joanes

Have camera, will shoot

A Masai woman arrives to collect water during a drought and finds the river bed dry

 

Two Masai women collect water while their mules wait patiently in the hot sun to carry the water to the village (boma)

By Emiliano Joanes

I wanted to get into photojournalism by working for the English newspaper, the East African Standard but it meant asking God to change my skin pigmentation. However, I decided to take sports pictures of the English playing rugby, cricket, and soccer.

Fortunately, for me the newspaper showed English sport taking place on a weekend.

I went to the club on Ngong Road where a rugby match was in progress. From the road, I looked to see if there was a photographer taking pictures. No one. I moved close to the field.

The good thing about rugby one can get bags of action shots. I had no clue how the game was played. What captured my imagination were the moments when the players formed a circle bending, facing the ground clinging to each with ball hidden between the arms and chests.

Next thing you knew the circle exploded like an atomic mushroom with the ball tossed high in the sky with the players making a grab for it. I aimed for that picture, got it, besides other midfield action shots, went home, set up the darkroom in the bathroom. I printed three action shots one was the circle that I came to know later was called the “scrum.”

On Sunday, I presented my pictures to John Downes the Sports Editor who introduced himself to me later said, “Did you take these pictures?” I replied yes. He looked at the pictures again and the contact sheet and asked again, “Did you take these pictures?” Again, I spoke the truth, but I added, “I could not write the captions and I did not know how the game was played.” By this time, I was prepared to swear on the Bible that I did take the pictures. “Leave it to me.” he said. The prints and contact sheet were curling because I had hung them on the clothesline to dry.

Next day, I saw my picture of the scrum on the sports page of the East African Standard.

I did a cricket match the following weekend. After that, at a soccer match. When I saw an East African Standard photographer, I made a complete U-turn and headed home.

John Downes told me that in the future he would tell what sports event he wanted me to cover. He also gave me letter to show to anyone who would not allow me to take pictures. The best part of it was to hand him the film that was processed in the newspaper darkroom. That was a relief!

A couple of months later, I received a letter from Kenneth Bolton, the editor asking would I be interested in joining the photographic team and if so, to go for an interview with John Perry, The Chief Photographer. As the saying goes, next it was history.

Working among a sea of white journalists was challenging. I assumed that they wanted to see If I met the challenge. I did better.

Two years down the road, I had two pictures in the World Press Photo competition on a photo essay I did on a drought in a Masai village. I also had a picture in the British Press Pictures of the Year competition an essay on ostriches in the Nairobi National Park.

What I found amusing was my picture of Nairobi University student riots that I entered in the Pravda newspaper that won a prize – 500 rubbles. The picture was of mounted police raising the front hoofs of his horse that I shot of the students between the legs of the horse. I think this was more for propaganda that the photo was selected.  

Africanization was in full force at the newspaper. All the English reporters and editors left.

I left the newspaper and emigrated to Canada when I could hear the drums of uhuru playing in the distant horizon.

The historic Jazz Swingers of Dar es Salaam

 

Jazz Swingers of Dar es Salaam

 

Dar es Salaam (Abode of Peace) was founded my Sultan Majid Bin Said in 1865, give or take a year or so. Very much like the magical island of Zanzibar (island of black people), Dar has always fascinated anyone who has heard of it, read about it, or was told about it the first time. Over the next few days, I hope to bring you some historic stories and photos about the Goans of Zanzibar. Thanks to Kenneth Mascarenhas for collecting material (from a brochure for the GI's golden anniversary) from Mervyn Lobo who lives in the US. The first is a brief history of the once famed G.I. Jazz Swingers by Banu Colaco.

 

At the New Year’s Eve function on December 31, 1947, more than 500 members and their families came to the Goan Institute, only to discover that the band hired for the occasion had not turned up. I had migrated from India earlier that year and played the drums and the violin for the Dar es Salaam Goan Musical and Dramatic Society. In desperation, the Management Committee asked me for my help and I scraped a group together, went back home for our instruments and began playing just after 10 pm. Our group had Jerry Luis on his accordion, Jimmy Fernandes on guitar, Lacy (Brandy) Caldeira on drums and I on violin. We had the crowd dancing till the early hours of the morning.

As the function was a huge success, the then president asked if I could form a band to play regularly at club functions. I agreed and persuaded the Management Committee to spend the then princely sum of 10,000 shillings for the purchase of a new piano and drum set. Thus, the GI Jazz Swingers band was formed. The initial group consisted of Jerry Luis (accordion), Tony Ferns (piano), his brother Neri (drums), Jimmy Fernandes (guitar) and myself (violin). The following year my brother Paxy (who had come from India) joined us and in 1950 we were joined by Manu Rodrigues. Manu played a sweet violin and arranged the music, but it was his delightful crooning that won him many admirers, mainly female.

Over the years that followed, there were many comings and goings and Jazz Swingers moved from being a string band to a swing outfit.

As the popularity of the Jazz Swingers grew, the band’s services were sought by various other organisations and clubs. For a while we had a monthly contract with the Tanganyika Broadcasting Corporation. However, the gig (engagement) that brought the Jazz Swingers’ name into the forefront was our weekly gig at the “Ocean Breeze” which was the city’s most popular restaurant and nightclub.

In 1959, (I remember them in Nairobi) the Jazz Swingers together with their families toured Kenya and Uganda and played at the Goan Institutes in Mombasa, Nairobi, Kampala and Entebbe.

With the advent of the 1960s, the band started to break up and eventually disbanded as some of its members were transferred from Dar es Salaam and others migrated to Canada, the USA and elsewhere.

However, we had a few last hurrahs. In 1984, Terence Pereira, who was the President of the Organising Committee for the annual Tanzanite Dance, persuaded members of the Jazz Swingers who were resident in Toronto (viz Manu Rodrigues, Jerry Luis, Nelson Fernandes, Luis Pereira, Paxy Colaco and myself and Gil Vaz who was visiting from the US to get together and play few sets at the function.

The GI Jazz Swingers are proud to have been part of the history of the Dar es Salaam Goan Institute.

The above piece was part of a congratulatory message on occasion of the Dar es Salaam Goan Institute’s Platinum Jubilee.

The history of the Jazz musicians of Dar es Salaam is captured beautifully in a book:

Waiting for the Sunrise
Goan Jazz Musicians in Dar es Salaam
by Judy Luis-Watson

Waiting for the Sunrise by Judy Luis-Watson is now available at Amazon.com (in both print and ebook versions). For buyers based in India, we recommend you order via Goa,1556. Details from jazzgoandar at gmail.com In Goa, a special print edition is also available via goa1556@gmail.com

Goss from a very long time ago …

Wonder if anyone can remember some of these!

(THIS excerpt from a Dar GI celebratory brochure will probably fuzzle minds of folks who are not familiar with the vintage. I reproduce it in honour of the folks gone past and a remembrance of the ways it used to be.)

 

Do you know that…

The Alexandra Cinema Hall, where the first two general meetings were held, was situated at the corner of Makuganya and India streets … we still talk shop there, don’t we?

Two gold crosses were buried in the premises of the Institute, one each occasion of the two foundation-laying-ceremonies … no treasure hunt please, lest we should lose our only means of a redemption!

The first streams of what is now the St Francis Xavier’s School, Chagombwe, were conducted in the premises of the old building on this site … quite naturally, as it has always been the aim of the Institute to promote intellectual activities!

A very elderly founder-member resident in Dar es Salaam, Mr A M Madeira (ex-Customs) now runs the Institute Bar … excise and tariffs come to him naturally.

Another founder member, Mr A E L Fernandes, has gone into farming … stronger foundation in self-reliance.

Chartered Architect Tony Almeida had said that the present building of the Institute was of a quality, that would need no apology anywhere in the world … of course, a thing of beauty, is a joy forever.

There were 620 children in the age group 1-12 years for the Christmas party in the Institute Hall last year … there were many more outside awaiting entry into that age-group.

It is customary to celebrate the anniversary of the Institute on the occasion of New Year’s Eve …ah ha, so that is the origin of the two free drinks … and then after killing two birds with one stone can it be said that we are not frugal in spirit?

Head Steward Mohamed Athmani (alias Fupi) is now 49 years old and has been in the service of the Institute for 31 years … he is heading for a double golden (or a golden double).

Mr Dominique De Souza designed the cover of this brochure (on the occasion of an anniversary celebration is presume) take a bow, Dominique, take a bow.

And finally, do you know that we are 50 years old today? You don’t say! Well happy birthday then, ad multos annos and all that, and lead us Kindly Light, onwards to a diamond and platinum. S.Z.S.

 

Goan Estate: remembered with pride (special photographs).

THERE ARE many Goans, once the younger generation but today the older generation, who will remember with pride the Goan Housing Estate in Pangani, Kenya. The estate, if I am right, was the initiative of the Kenya Goan Association. Like everything else Goan, the estate was cause for celebration but had its detractors. I think it was originally going to be called the Dr Ribeiro Goan Estate. It never happened.

From another friend: "The Goan Estate only became a reality solely because of the determined lobbying efforts of the late Dr A C L desousa. Dr Ribeiro had absolutely no part in the venture. It was Dr desousa's brainchild. He lobbied Dr Gregory, the Mayor of Nairobi in 1955, to secure the land, secure funding, etc, and created the Goan Estate consisting of 26 semi-detached homes a reality.

"An official opening ceremony was held the centre oval. Dr Gregory was the guest of honour and the estate was named The Dr desousa Goan Estate. However, the brahmins of the estate objected to the naming and boycotted the ceremony. They went as far as hanging black flags from their balconies. They conveniently forgot that without Dr desousa, there never would have been a Goan Estate in the first place."

I thought the Goans who lived in the estate were a pretty happy lot. Sometimes, time does make liars of us all. They belonged to the Nairobi Goan Institute, the Railway Goan Institute or the Nairobi Goan Gymkhana. They worshiped at either the St Teresa's church in Eastleigh ( a 10 or 15 minute walk) or the St Francis Xavier's Church at the start of Forest Road and a stone's throw from perhaps the best Goan initiative, the Dr Ribeiro Goan School.

One way or another there was plenty to be cheerful and celebrate about this group of Goans who lived a few steps away from another group: the Goans who lived in the Nairobi City Council flats which have since been raised recently and in their place more than 1000 flats are being built.

As time continues to march on, so does the memory of the Goans who gave so much to the building of modern Kenya.

I am indebted to Tony Reg D'Souza, Eva Fonseca, Antonio Desousa, Filandro Fernandes and a few other people who have helped to remember the Goans who lived in the estate. I am sure there will be one or two or three names missed from the list below and I will update them as I soon as I am advised.

Today, there are still a couple of Goan families still living in the estate. We are not done yet!

The Goan Estate had at its heart a rectangle (some said it was a triangle) and all the houses faced this green playground. Twenty-six families purchased homes here, two to each block.

 

In the last block in this line were Mr. & Mrs. Peter D'Costa, Edward, Gladys, Glafira, Guenivera, Benjamin, George and Gileta.  To their right were Mr. & Mrs. Botelho, Joy, Grace, Ruby and Jude.

Next door to them in the next block were Mr. & Mrs. Francis D'Cruz, Valerie, Clive and Desmond

To their right, in the next block, were Mr. & Mrs. Francis D'Cruz, Valerie, Clive and Cedric and on their right was Mrs. Rosendo and her 2 daughters (her husband died a few years after they moved in.

To their right, I think it was Mario and Wavell and family on the left side and on their right were Mr. & Mrs. Remedios, Joyce, Jean, Marian, Joseph and Morris.

To the right of the Remedios home and the last one on this line were Belinda and her family and I do not remember who their neighbor was.

Now to the next line on the left-hand side of the estate were Mr. & Mrs. John Nazareth, Olga, Paul, Ophelia, Sonny and Olivia and to their left were Mr. & Mrs. Monteiro and their daughter.  

To the Monteiro's left were the Abreu family and in their block were Mr. & Mrs. J C J Dias, Ivera & Ino.  Mr Dias was a school committee member.

In the next block were Mr. & Mrs. Costa Correia and family and Marilia Pegado and family.

Next to the Pegado's were Mr. & Mrs. Fernandes, Armando, Renato and Vera and next door were the Martrys family.  

There were two families next to the Martrys' home in the last block on this side (sorry can’t remember the names).

On to the third line, were Mr. & Mrs. Tavares (headmaster/teacher at Dr Ribeiro Goan School) and family, their next-door neighbors were Manny Rodrigues and family.

In the next block were the D'Mello family, and their next-door neighbor was Mr. & Mrs. Anthony D'Souza and family (teacher at DRGS).

To their left in the next block were Mr. & Mrs. J F D'Souza, Victor, Henry and next door, were Mr. & Mrs. Borges with their 2 daughters. 

In the last block on this side were the Quadros family and next door were Mr. & Mrs. Felix Noronha, Sonya, June and Fernanda. 

COMMENTS:

CLIFFORD COSTA CORREA: Thank you for your blog and sharing these pictures. The Goan Estate was a fun place to live and it was indeed a very close community. Many of us that lived in the Goan Estate moved to the UK, Canada, USA & Australia but many of us remain in touch, thanks in a large part to Filandru Fernandes who from time to time organizes "Zoom calls" and we get a chance to talk about the "fun time" we had growing up in the Goan Estate. The Goan Estate looks different now but these pictures brought back fond memories and I am impressed that Tony, Eva, Anto and Fil were able to identify virtually all the residents in the Estate. The only one I would question was the house next to Anthony D'Souza, I thought it was Walter D'Cruz but I could be wrong! Thanks again, great memories!

The photographs below have been provided by Eva's friend Baldip Khan, a classmate from Dr Ribeiro's. She still live in Kenya.

The last two pictures are pure nostalgia!

 

Mementoes of Kenya

 

Yesterday at The Nation

A review by Malik Merchant

Yesterday at The Nation, may soon be available to the public.

Highlight and click

 https://simerg.com/2020/08/27/former-daily-nation-chief-reporter-produces-a-special-souvenir-to-commemorate-60th-anniversary-of-paper-founded-by-his-highness-the-aga-khan/

Redevelopment of Pangani Goan Estate

PANGANI GOAN ESTATE

I was misled by the project developers. I am sorry I got it wrong.

Tony Reg D’Souza was first to point out that the photos did not match our memories of the original Goan Estate. I misled him because I could not think that the project could have got it so wrong. Anyway, a friend, sent me this note: 

In regard to the Goan estate...  It is still there and the flats behind the club have been brought down. Those were the Nairobi City Council flats and also had a number of Goan families living there up to the mid-1970s. My husband and his family are part of the Goan Estate. This estate is still there with two Goan families.

The original Goan Estate had 48 houses; the new development will house 1560 apartments! The social and common facilities that will be incorporated in the project include;

·         Social Hall

·         Gymnasium

·         Squash Court Club House

·         Children’s playing ground

·         Beautifully landscaped gardens

·         Perimeter wall

·         Manned gate

·         Ample Parking (3 basements over 75% of the site)

·         High speed elevators

·         Commercial center

·         Nursery School

 

Artists Bird View impression of the completed development

 

For further info, please visit:

https://nairobi.go.ke/pangani-affordable-housing-project-update/

 

 

https://stimainvestment.co.ke/images/downloads/pangani_project/Pangani_Heights_communication.pdf

 

 

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/nairobi/article/2001417176/city-hall-pledges-1042-affordable-houses- by-december

 

 

Compiled by Eng. Arshad Khan, MSc, BSc, DIC, CEng, FIStructE, FICE, MIEK, REng, Nairobi, 14th September 2021

View from the 20^th level roof of Block 1

  

Liberty Cinema on left and Pangani (Duchess of Gloucester) Girls School on right (arrowed)

Google Earth Image April 2020

Goans who excelled in Kenya

I AM trying to put together a list of names of those Goans who excelled in Colonial Civil Service in Kenya, private enterprise, teaching, and every other employment, trade or profession in Kenya. This is a sidebar to the main story which will be headed: How Goans helped develop the various aspects of Kenya: 1860 (or 1857) to 1966. This is not a high brow exercise, anyone can feature on this list no matter what the job.

Please send me your contribution: skipfer43@gmail.com

Dr ACL De Sousa CBE

MERVYN MACIEL, Executive Officer, Provincial Admin:

1.Pascoal D'Mello, MBE, originally held position of P.C.'s Clerk in Mombasa later rose to Establishment Officr in the Secretariat.

2.D.F. da Lima, MBE, P.C.'s Clerk (should have been designated Personal Asst. to the

Provincial Commissioner) in Isiolo, N.F.D. Later rose to Revenue Officer in Kisumu.

3.Sally Mendes, MBE, P.C.'s clerk, Kisuu(Nyanza Province). A very modest individual

                                     who helped alot of Goans.

4.Germanno Gomes-  Held various clerical positions in various districts. Was more of a

                                    P.A. to Provincial/District Commissioners. Never suffered fools gladly!

5.Victor Fernandes     District Cashier in various districts. A very efficient individual.

6.S.F. Braganca         Clerk in Provincial Administration,Mombasa and various districts.

6.Basil D'Souza         Formerly Police clerk, later, Revenue Officer in the Prov.Administration

7.Joe Aguiar               Cashier, South Nyanza District

8. JF Andrade            A veteran of the frontier,Cashier at Voi.Great company for his age.

                                  Loved shooting game and was an accurate shot!

9.Silwyn Pinto           District Cashier in Voi. Likeable man.

10.Ignatius Carvalho Initial Provinciaal Relief Clerk,Coast Province,latterly

                                  District Cashier, Kajiado and other districts. Lovely man.

11. John Pereira       District Cashier, Isiolo. Great company

12.Thomas Fernandes  Transport Clerk, Isiolo, NFD(son of Goan pioneer businessman)

Some non-Provincial Administration names that come to

mind as I day dream.....:

1. Hector Moraes  Establishment/Personnel Officer, Agriculture Dept

2. Joe Fonseca, Accountant, Ministry of Agriculture

3. Rosendo Abreu - Senior official(can't remember his title) Prisons Dept

4. Mariano da Gama   Accountant, Prisons Department

5. Dourado (can't recall initials) - Senior man in Police headquarters

6. A.B. Rego-   Government Coast Agent, Mombasa

7. There was also a Mr. Lacerda high up in the Medical dept

8.Cyprian Lobo -Asst. Director of Education (Asian)

9. Jock Sequeira  - Education Officer, Mombasa

(BTW on the Prov. Administration there was

 Peter de Souza - Revenue Officer - an outspoken man and a friend.)

Education

John Gomes, Educator/Headmaster/Humanist: Grand Old Warrior of Kenya